Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 13 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - The Kingdom of Otomo Sorin 

At the time Sagara Yoshiharu drifted to the shore of Higo, met Sagara Yoshihi, and participated in the Battle of Kizakihara against the Shimazu army. 

The diplomat convoy, along with Kanbei Kuroda and Frois, had arrived at the biggest trade city and harbor of Bungo Province safely. 

The relationship between the Otomo and Oda Clans, whose lords were known as “economic daimyos” who exploited foreign trade, was significantly good. 

Most of the goods from Nambans were carried out to Sakai via the trade ports of Kyushu such as Hakata and Nagasaki. 

Since Otomo Sorin controlled the biggest Namban trade in Japan, Nobuna whose trading center was at Sakai treated Otomo Sorin with a humble and masquerading attitude, Money is friend and I bow my head to money. The Oda Clan and Sakai were acting politely as expected since they were a more valuable client than anyone else. 

The Kanbei Kuroda party which had only arrived at the province was met by many senior statesmen and merchants and received a lively welcome. 

Fireworks were exuberantly lit and exhibited. Was it because so many merchants settled down in the town. Or was it Sorin’s hobby? 

“Simon-san. Look at the scenery of this town.” 

“As usual, half of this city is totally like a Namban city. Moreover, the other half is filled with the wonders of the City of Ming [City of Ming = the capital Nanjing]. There aren’t only Europeans. Along the streets, there are Koreans, Filipinos, Cambodians, and Siamese. Merchants from countries across the sea gathered in this town.” 

“In Europe, Otomo Sorin-sama is more famous than Nobuna-sama. I heard that in there, there was a map which recorded a country named Bungo located at the west side of Zipangu. I finally understand.” 

“It’s been a long time since I visited Kyushu!” Kanbei’s motivated mind shouted. “Frois. That one is the Chinese town where all of the merchants gather. The residence of those merchants in Bungo is at Sakuramachi. The area where that grand church is built is on the Namban town. By the way, the name of that church is Deus Temple. The purpose of that building is to develop talented delegates to meet the pope,” she waved her fan as she introduced many famous places of the town. 

A large, old general with a gray beard, who was being carried out in a mikoshi-like carriage, appeared in front of Kanbei and the others. 

He seemed to be unable to walk on his own, but there was no doubt that he was a veteran military officer. 

“Thank you for coming, people of the Oda Clan. I am a retainer of the Otomo Clan, Tachibana Dosetsu. During my prime, I was once struck by a lightning, leaving me dying. With only one functional leg, I have to use this portable shrine. My apologys.” 

The old general who was seated upon the portable shrine was Otomo’s strongest warrior, Tachibana Dosetsu. 

His abnormal life force still survived through even after being hit by a lightning and thereafter suffering hemiplegia. He was a leader who always stood on his army’s forefront and pursued the enemy general’s neck. “I shall die for the old man’s sake,” the soldiers yearned for his natural virtue. He held an unwavering loyalty to Otomo Sorin. He was the famous general who was respected as the absolute among all of the Shuras of Kyushu with fear and awe. 

But regrettably, he was an old person now. [His speech personality is similar with Saito Dousan’s.] 

Dosetsu should’ve naturally retired. But the Otomo Clan had passed over their former glory of hegemony over six countries in Kyushu. Now the Shimazu and Ryuzoji Clans had suddenly risen in power, wherefore Dosetsu encouraged his old bones to serve Sorin his last service. 

“Muu! Isn’t it Dosetsu? It’s me, Kanbei Kuroda. This Simon once had to also sit on a portable shrine before, but I recovered thanks to Arima’s hot springs!” 

“Oh. Aren’t you Harima’s boy who studied the strange Namban language under the Nambans?” 

“Whoa! I’m not a boy! Simon is a princess general! Also, don’t mention Harima!” 

“You still shout loudly that makes one’s ears in pain as always. But surely you have been successfully promoted as a diplomat of the Oda Clan?” 

“How rude! I never shout as loud as Dosetsu does.” 

“I see. So where is Sagara Yoshiharu?” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu got shipwrecked.” 

“Eh? Nanjatoo [whaat]?! An important messenger getting shipwrecked, and just letting him be like that? How foolish!” 

“It’s not a problem. Since he should be still alive, we will send out a search party for now! There is no time to wait for him; let us have an audience with Otomo Sorin immediately!” 

However, when he took a glance at the face of the Namban missionary Frois, Dosetsu let out a deep sigh. 

“I say, Harima boy.” 

“Don’t say Harima! Call me Kanbei or Simon!” 

“Kanbei. I don’t want to increase the number of missionaries who serve under Hime-sama anymore. Ever since Hime-sama converted to Christianity, the Otomo Clan has always been split into two perfectly. There are the pro-Christian faction and anti-Christian faction. Hime-sama has moved the administrative office from this town to Niu Island close to Hyuga, and built an impenetrable fortress there. It is in order to stop the Shimazu Clan’s northern advancement, who wishes to ban Christianity.” 

“For the things I have done to have no meaning…” Frois’s head drooped. 

“Well, don’t worry about that, just show us the way. I and Frois have come to stop Gaspard and the other reckless missionaries. So as to say, we are your allies.” 

“Oho. I am grateful. I thought you came to assist Gaspard for sure. It was my misunderstanding!” 

“Today, Sorin is also in this town, right?” 

“But, Gaspard and the missionaries in question will also be attending. Missionaries are supposed to only spread the teachings of Christianity and establish trade; they should never intervene in military affairs. But this guy is different. He took the post as the military advisor to the Otomo Clan and began to advise Hime-sama to construct a kingdom of God at Hyuga. He cleverly kidnapped the first Japanese Christian Omura Sumitada at Hizen. He is going to donate the land of Nagasaki to Dominus Association. There is a rumor that he is going to use it as protection against the Ryuzoji Clan’s invasion. I don’t know whether this province will be snatched away by him sometime soon either!” 

“Even Nagasaki Port has become a part of Dominus Association.” 

“It is so. Now the Portuguese fleet is defending Nagasaki Port. After Gaspard came to Kyushu, things have suddenly become like this.” 

“Xavier-sama…” Frois inadvertently looked up to the sky. 

“Gaspard-sama is going to colonize Nagasaki, Simon-san. It is not only as a trading port, but he is going to establish it as a military base for the Portuguese and Hispania in Zipangu.” 

“Hmmm. But for what purpose? It is impossible to invade the whole Japan with only one or two strongholds being established in one day. Gaspard should’ve understood that.” 

“Isn’t he going to make use of Kyushu’s war situation to gradually increase the number of his bases?” 

“Sim. It appears that Gaspard intends to fuel a confrontation between the anti-Christian and pro-Christian daimyos.” 

“Yes. It’s a serious situation. If the wise Nobuna knows this. It is possible that Christianity would be prohibited…” 

“Even if the religion wouldn’t be prohibited, Oda Nobuna would never approve of religious factions to take up arms no matter what! It is wherefore that she was about to burn Enryakuji and made Honbyo Temple to disarm themselves. If we leave Gaspard as it is, then there would a battle between Oda Nobuna and the Christian daimyos of Kyushu.” 

“Simon also thinks that it is necessary to avoid it for Zipangu. If so, then Christianity would never find its roots in this country for eternity.” 

“He is no longer a missionary but an invader! He is completely different from the noble Xavier who taught Christianity to Hime-sama! Hime-sama is a fool!” Dosetsu barked, shaking his pointed moustache. 

“Damn loud!” The samurais who were responsible of carrying the portable shrine were covering their ears and shook. 

“The progression of this situation is faster than Simon has thought. Frois is a direct pupil of Xavier. Simon shall back up the confrontation between these two people.” 

“I say, Kanbei! It’s good to make a country rich through trading with Nambans, but it cannot be compared with the lands being robbed by the Europeans and Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples being destroyed! Hime-sama did not like wars originally. She was frightened of her circumstances where she had to continue fighting rebels and enemy countries as the daimyo of a country of Shuras. Formerly, Xavier from Namban healed the princess’s heart. But now, Gaspard took the chance to enter the holes of her heart.” 

“Sorin is a maiden. Gaspard is a young man. Did he use such method to dominate her mind?” 

“No. As one would expect from a missionary, there was no seduction. Hime-sama and her faith will be enraged if he were to show lust. He is a natural gentleman with fastidious wisdom. Besides, since Hime-sama has always been troubled by men who have been aiming for the seat of Bungo’s king, she is extremely androphobic. As for that person, he used a more horrifying technique to erode Hime-sama’s mind.” 

“If it is Simon then she will understand it during the meeting,” Frois nodded, though frightened. 

Within the center of the town, there was a magnificent mansion which had become Sorin’s second residence. 

It’s a huge place with a combination of Japanese and Namban architectural styles. 

The outside was Japanese-styled but through the gate, it was almost completely Namban-type. It was flooded with buildings filled with exoticism such as the chapel, where the statue of Mary stood, in the palace and a fountain park in a very Namban way. There was a choir of boys and girls chanting a hymn to meet the messenger in the garden. 

But there was a subtle tension floating here and there despite with such splendid appearance. Because there was an opposition within the clan against the Christian policies that cast over a shadow. 

When Tachibana Dosetsu led Frois to a large hall with stone pavement along with Kanbei,“Hime-sama!” He shouted in a loud voice. “Paoo!” The beast unleashed a roar. It was a cry that Kanbei was familiar with. 

The queen of Bungo – Otomo Sorin was riding on a huge, exotic beast. 

That was an elephant which did not originally live in Japan. 

It has a long nose, big ears, and a magnificent body. 

“What is this?” Kanbei was shaken. “Hime-sama’s eccentric behavior has become flashier,” Dosetsu also sighed. 

“It’s been a long time, Kuroda Kanbei. No, Don Simon. It seems that you were able to demonstrate your talent under Oda Nobuna. This elephant is a beast that I got from Cambodia. I’m keeping it as a pet.” 

A fair-skinned, oval-faced with long eyelashes. 

A thin body wrapped in a Namban coat like a nun’s. Otomo Sorin, who held both rosary beads [Catholic counterpart of Buddhist monks’ beads but with a crucifix] that had a black luster and a Tanegashima in her arms together, looked down upon Kanbei and Frois with eyes tinged with melancholy, and climbed down from the back of the elephant. 

“Just like the Queen of Sheba,” Frois let out a voice. 

“What’s with this animal; it’s dangerous, Sorin.” 

“Hey, Simon. You mustn’t call me Sorin anymore. I was formally baptized; my baptismal name is Don Francisco. It’s because I received that name from Xavier-sama. But I call myself Sorin. Because I like how it sounds.” [Note: Sorin refers to herself as “Sorin,” in proximate third person.] 

“Although the princess has a mature look, her voice is unexpectedly like a young child’s,” Frois was surprised. 

With a high intellect equal to Oda Nobuna’s, like an imbalanced little girl with an unstable and delicate personality. It was evident from her expression. 

At a glance, there was a strong-willed, sharp gaze behind her eyes as they wandered around in many directions with constant shaking. 

She fears other people, Frois felt sorry for Sorin. 

“I appreciate the tea bowl souvenir, Simon.” 

The elephant extended its nose and skillfully took the tea set gift up from Kanbei’s hands, and put it on top of Sorin’s bountiful chest.  [Not a Dragon Nest reference, absolutely not] 

“Damn, Sorin’s breasts have grown! It has already surpassed Frois’s! Why could Simon’s chest never be on the same level as Takenanaka Hanbei’s flat chest?” Kanbei stomped on the ground. “I would like it smaller though,” Frois thought. 

“Simon. I shall give a Namban pumpkin for gratitude. Yes. It has a bright orange color but it’s very sweet.” 

Sorin put her favorite vegetable pumpkin on top of the elephant’s trunk.  

Pumpkin had been spoken as tabahanawahata [???] with a rural accent but was later known as a vegetable called pumpkin. It was a new culinary ingredient that was introduced to Japan when a Portuguese ship gave it to Sorin. 

The elephant skillfully used its nose to carry the pumpkin to Kanbei’s hands. 

“Whoa, how scary; why does this pumpkin have a humanoid face with a hollowed mouth and nose? Sorin, you mustn’t play with food!” 

“Why? Isn’t it cute?” 

“Are you sick?” 

“Sorin sold this pumpkin extensively in the market as Bungo’s specialty. Can’t a ghost costume be made with pumpkin? I wanted to participate in the Azuchi Festival where many people who were wearing costumes gathered.” [Again, Sorin refers to herself in proximate third person] 

When one looked carefully, in many places around the town and palaces, there were a lot of strange, green and orange vegetables with human faces hung, decorating the area. 

“You mean, all of these are pumpkins?” Kanbei was amazed 

.  

When Sorin was absorbed in something, she would do it thoroughly. 

“By the way, where is Sagara Yoshiharu? I am looking forward to see the long-awaited man from the future, but I can’t see him.” 

“When we were sailing, there were a lot of circumstances with the Chosokabe. He will be a little late, but he will come later.” 

“Oh well. Because Simon is here, it’s all good. Even if I haven’t been told, I understand Oda Nobuna’s request. It’s to attack the Mori Clan from behind, right? With Uesugi Kenshin, Takeda Shingen, and the Mori Clan, which are three major forces, attacking simultaneously, the Oda Clan’s fate is like a candle before the wind. This Sorin holds the key to decide the conclusion of this world’s battle.” 

I have solved it, Sorin laughed. 

“It is so. As for you, though your actions are slow, you are quick to make an argument!” 

“Of course, it’s not a problem since there is nothing that Sorin can’t do. A battle is coming for Sorin. After all, the Ito Clan which is the arch nemesis and hindrance of the Shimazu Clan got defeated at the Battle of Hyuga. If we begin a battle against the Mori Clan, the Ryuzoji Clan might sneak in. It’s dangerous. Oda Nobuna held a magnificent feast, right? So what will I get? I want Satsuma, Osumi, and Hyuga!” 

“Wa-Wait a second! The Ito Clan got defeated by Shimazu?” 

“Yes. The Ito Clan was defeated by the Shimazu Clan and fell despite having the upper hand of 10 times the enemy’s military power. The people from the Ito Clan who had survived fled into this Bungo. Despairing over this world or getting tired of these chaotic times, the number of Christians keeps on increasing.” 

“Damn it, I was one step behind,” Kanbei scratched her head. 

“But it’s alright, Simon. Because there is the Kunikuzushi [Destroyer of Provinces] that Gaspard gave to me. It won’t lose to Shimazu.” 

“An ominous-sounding name; it wouldn’t be good if Bungo collapses…” Dosetsu gave the order to bring the new weapon into the main hall. 

“It’s begun; Ojii-san has complained. Look at it, Simon.” 

Kanbei was very fond of Namban weapons. She took a look at the Kunikuzushi, and her heart was fascinated by it. “Mufu,” she clung to its huge weapon frame. 

“Kunikuzushi! It’s the latest cannon from Namban; it’s big! The real weapon is really different! It’s even larger than the cannon that Simon designed and put on the Tekkosen.” 

“It’s too heavy; it’s impossible to put it on a Japanese boat [wasen]. The Shimazu Clan mass produced Tanegashimas and attacked using firepower. Sorin will equip Kunikuzushi to Niu Island’s castle and turn it to an impregnable fortress. It will be an indomitable stronghold like Constantinople. It’s a perfect defense system that can last under siege for 100 years, or even 1000 years. Therefore, Sorin will change Niu Castle into a water fort. Constantinople fell against the Orban artillery, but the reverse shall be done with Sorin’s fortress. The Orban cannon can protect Sorin’s fortress, right?” 

Frois remembered it and got dizzy. 

Tanegashima was not something that missionaries brought to Zipangu. When the ship of a Namban merchant was accidentally stranded on Tanegashima [the name of a place east of Osumi], a few guns were sold to the local Japanese, thus starting its production. The Namban merchant couldn’t have imagined that the people of this land would manufacture a huge number of Tanegashimas for only several years.  

“However, it is obvious that Gaspard is intervening in the civil war despite being a missionary. What happened, Frois? Are you hungry?” 

“Simon-san. Sorin-sama. A cannon is not something that a missionary should possess.” 

“Is there such a thing? Didn’t Gaspard say that faith and war were both sides of the same coin? Because Sorin likes peace, I want to remodel Hyuga into a country of Christians quickly without any resistance. If the opponent does not accept it then we must fight. To begin with, Oda Nobuna burnt Enryaku-ji, fought the Honbyo Temple, and defeated the Buddhist power. Isn’t this the same?” 

“It’s not the same. Nobuna-sama became the infamous Dairokuten Maou [Demon King of the Sixth Heaven] in order to disarm the religious factions. She believes that that is the way to end Zipangu’s war. Sorin-sama. There shouldn’t be any war between the Christians and anti-Christians in Zipangu.” 

“It will become a religious war where none can leave uninvolved. It’s like how the Protestants and Catholics were fighting each other to obtain lands in Europe,” Frois was speaking about it, but was also very ashamed of it. 

“No. Sorin wants to build my own kingdom. Sorin hasn’t been able to spend a day in peace ever since I was born as the Otomo Clan’s legitimate child. I have always been afraid of betrayal. In a country of Shuras, parents, retainers and even brothers are only traitors. Therefore, in order to not be rebelled or disinherited, or other scary experiences, I must build a kingdom of “Sorin,” not of the “Otomo Clan.” 

“Therefore, all retainers and vassals must be converted to Christians. To become a resident of Sorin’s kingdom, a test must be done. People who don’t do that are the enemy,” Sorin murmured as she received the tea set from Kanbei. 

“What are you talking about, Sorin? You are blessedd with servants who have unequaled loyalty. In the Otomo Clan, there are veteran retainers like Dosetsu who continues to fight for you even if he is suffering from hemiplegia [paralysis on either half of the body, the whole body version of Bell’s palsy]. Do you not believe in their loyalty? To hold a belief is your own freedom, but you cannot force it to other people! Not to mention, you want to test their loyalty by converting them to Christians! What people want to believe in is something that they should choose in their own accord!” 

“… Simon grew up being spoiled by your father; you wouldn’t understand.” 

“We both keep badmouthing each other; it seems that Sorin and Simon aren’t friends, uwaaah!”  

“Ah. My bad. Although Sorin is a good person, she has a foul mouth, don’t you know? Anyway, can you stop fake crying now [not crocodile tears; fake tears]? It’s annoying.” 

“There isn’t any gentleness in what you’ve said!” 

“The southern part of Hyuga has been occupied by the Shimazu soldiers. Now, Sorin has gotten the northern part of Hyuga from the Ito Clan. Instead of exile, they ceded their territory to me. I must move. I have sent troops to Hyuga, and will fight a decisive battle with the Shimazu Clan. This is a perfect opportunity to establish the kingdom of God at Hyuga. But I’ve heard rumors that Oda Nobuna has been giving bigger rewards than Hyuga.” 

“…Tachibana Dosetsu, when did Sorin become like this? Sorin of that time was the predecessor of Torres who is the manager of Zipangu branch post of Dominus Association. She built hospitals and, with the cooperation of the Christians, instituted good governance. She should have been a hero who completely fought for the Christians’ kingdom already!” 

“Harima’s young boy. About Hime-sama. My power are just not enough…” Dosetsu lay down and shook his head. 

*** 

Otomo Sorin was born with a fate smeared by blood. 

The Otomo Clan was Kyushu’s greatest power. 

A Shura among Shuras, it’s a clan that stood on the peak of warriors. 

Sorin was born as the legitimate child of Otomo Clan. Sooner or later, she must succeed the family estate of the Otomo Clan – she must fight many powerful enemies within Kyushu. 

Sorin had high intelligence since she was young, but she didn’t have a strong physique to endure battles between Shuras who staked their very lives. She did not want to succeed the family head. If possible, she wanted to enter a Buddhist temple and enter the path of belief. But because she was too intelligent, she couldn’t harbor faith for Buddhism inside her.  

Sorin wasn’t able to find a place for her belief in war. 

And so, Sorin’s fate darkened even further. 

Sorin’s father bestowed the family inheritance to her younger step-brother because Sorin was scared of war. In other words, the second wife had become the favorite. 

In a daimyo clan, there was always an internal dispute over the family inheritance. 

It’s a trial that Nobuna, Takeda Shingen, and even the young Date Masamune had experienced. However, the Otomo Clan was a lineage of Kyushu’s Shuras; they suffered from tragedies that couldn’t be compared with these various other clans. Kyushu was a harsh place.  

Sorin might not only be disinherited but, in the worst case, would also be killed by her father. 

The young Sorin was frightened under the shadow of her father every day and night. 

And then that incident happened. 

It was soon after Sorin had been demoted by her father and driven out to Honjo. 

The group of retainers under Sorin’s faction who opposed Sorin’s disinheritance rebelled in Honjo. 

Sorin’s father, her step brother, and also his step brother’s real mother were killed by their hands. This incident was dubbed the “Mysterious Second Floor Collapse” in Bungo. 

It was caused by the revolting vassals who killed everyone. 

Fortunately, the demoted Sorin was able to survive due to the eldest child succession policy of the elders and could inherit the Otomo Clan’s family estate. 

After this great incident, a suspicion circulated throughout Kyushu. 

Sorin who refused to be disinherited moved her vassals to support her and kill her father, younger step-brother, and his real mother. 

Indeed, The young Sorin who shouldered the suspicion of killing her own father inherited the Otomo Clan’s family estate and was made the king of Bungo. 

Carrying a deep scar and perplexity in her mind, she had to live every day with conflict after conflict until her life would be exhausted. 

The famous general Tachibana Dosetsu became aware of the abnormality inside Sorin’s mind, With the way things are, Hime-sama’s mind won’t last for even a year,” and grew impatient. 

Could she fall in love with a man? 

Impossible. Sorin, who had been about to be disinherited by her father and deprived of the clan’s family estate by her younger stepbrother, along with the gruesome revolt of her vassals, began to distrust men. 

Did she need to beseech Buddhism for help? 

But Sorin was a clever person; furthermore, the intelligent couldn’t throw away the sense of worldliness [common sense], for she was born with a lot of ego [sense of oneself]. 

The reason why she was disliked by her father was because of her “ego.” It was impossible to achieve the quiet state of enlightenment through abdication. 

How about awakening the ambition to unify Kyushu and letting the torment be forgotten by burying it under battles? However, Sorin hated bloody conflicts. Although she’d fought battles in order to protect herself from her enemies due to cowardice, she was not a girl who could live for the sake of war. Even if she went to battle with enthusiasm and courage, she would suddenly get depressed. That was impossible too. 

But there was an encounter that would support the broken heart of the unstable Sorin. 

At was the encounter with Xavier, a missionary, who went to Kyushu across the sea from the west. 

As for Sorin, she believed in neither the Christians’ god nor Heaven at first. 

What were written in the Bible are just stories, her intellect denied that belief and abandoned the thought.  

But inside the human called Xavier who continued to walk around the earth on a long journey despite being whipped in persecution and emaciated, there was something that she found within her cowardice nature. 

When an audience was granted to Xavier, Sorin was conveyed with some words from Xavier. 

What were those words? Were those words of encouragement that no one else but Sorin knew? Dosetsu hypothesized so. 

Wasn’t the driving force Hime-sama to become a benevolent ruler and mature conqueror of Kyushu the words of Xavier? 

Therefore, in order to protect the Christians, Hime-sama herself converted to Christianity. 

But that was only a conjecture. 

The truths were all hidden inside Sorin’s heart. 

Including the truth of whether she really killed her own father… 

*** 

“Simon, Frois. Please negotiate with Gaspard after this! Because if Gaspard is Sorin’s military advisor now, he is the one who is called the strategist, right? He knows a lot about military affairs and history. He is a person whom I can depend on. He is much more reliable than what my father was. But isn’t it quite particular for the queen of a Christian kingdom to be celibate and remain a virgin? I have been wanting to take a husband.” 

“Wait a second, Sorin! The negotiation of the Oda and Otomo Clans will be done directly with you! A missionary will participate in the matter of this military alliance!” 

“Even if it doesn’t go that way, it will still be done. Now is the time for a nap and confession. In addition, a sleep for tonight, Simon. Because this is a preparation for the entertainment.” 

Sorin let out a big yawn as she pulled the elephant’s ear. 

The elephant let out a cry, thereafter leaving the great hall. 

“Kanbei, Frois. Now, Hime-sama has entrusted military affairs to Gaspard. She has taken over a piece of Hyuga, destroying all the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples of it, and is now possessed by the dream of gathering people who won’t betray her by founding a country that will become a kingdom of Christians. For an old person like me who have a deep belief to Hachiman-kami [Shinto god of war], this is a nightmare.” [For any lurking grammar nazi, the relative pronoun “who” substitutes the antecedent “me,” a prepositional object.] 

Frois nodded painfully to Tachibana Dosetsu’s words. 

“However, this is also my responsibility. The more I admonish her, the more Hime-sama becomes obstinate. Once, I let Hime-sama keep a ferocious monkey. It attacked the retainers when it went wild. Wanting to stop it in order to not sully the pride of a samurai who didn’t listen to an advice, I promptly killed the monkey with an iron fan when it attacked me. However, the animal that Hime-sama has brought this time is an elephant from Cambodia. It cannot be killed with an iron fan. If I pull a sword in the presence of Hime-sama, it will be regarded as a rebellion.” 

“The master and their vassals are both to be blamed; Kyushu’s samurais are really violent,” Kanbei was amazed. 

“I have relentlessly admonished her too much,” Dosetsu dropped his shoulders. 

“Sorin-sama will create another country in Zipangu. Rather than Sorin-sama, it would be more appropriate to say that it would be Gaspard. He intends to make Hyuga a new country of Zipangu which is different in a sense compared to Settsu or Mino. Perhaps, in order to make a large European military base in Nagasaki. The Crusade also occupied lands of Islam through military might, building new Christian countries: the Latin Kingdom and Antioch Dukedom.” 

“Crusade?!” Dosetsu shouted loudly. 

“You’re hurting my ears!” Kanbei complained, but Dosetsu ignored it. 

“Crusade! It’s a mysterious word that is well known in Bungo! One of it is the crest of the Shimazu Clan, the Shuras who are feared for their brave heroism and prowess, The Circle Cross! The other one is the name of the Christian corps formed by Gaspard to subjugate Hyuga, The Lily Crusade!” [Crusade, in katakana, is kuruseidou; it sounds similarly to the hiragana transliteration of cross, ???, which is pronounced as “kurosu.”] 

“In other words, Shimazu is being provoked with “a cross coat-of-arms for a cross coat-of-arms;” just what kind of person is Gaspard? He isn’t just some ordinary missionary,” Kanbei clicked her tongue. 

“Hime-sama’s order is absolute. I shall take you to Gaspard’s place. But be careful as to not let your heart be captivated. Especially Kanbei, beware, hence you won’t get deceived by that person’s words because of your carelessness.”  

The head of Zipangu’s Dominus Association who assumed the post of Otomo Sorin’s military advisor, Gaspard, had been given a tiny, shabby room in the corner of Otomo’s mansion. 

“It has been a long time, Frois Louis. And to Don Simon, this is our first meeting.” 

Gaspard Cabral. A young missionary from Portugal. 

He made fortunes as a merchant who traveled all over Portugal and India. He was also a scholar who devoted himself on collecting sacred tools, relics and various treasures all over the world, as written in his profile that he made himself, but his true history before becoming a head of Dominus Association was a mystery. 

Since the time he joined the Dominus Association in Goa, he became well-versed in the knowledge about the mythical past of the eastern civilization. “The heretic who dwelled too much in the Orient,” “the Gnostic Cathar,” an alchemist as well as an astrologist, such bad reputations about him floated around. 

In addition, he belonged to the radical party in Dominus Association that engaged itself in colony acquisition as well as missionary works which conspired with the kingdom: the Conquistador faction. 

There was a minority in the Dominus Association which valued missionary works, living in honorable poverty without compensation, and had connection with the Spanish royalty and Portuguese regnant household. 

This faction seemed to have backed up Gaspard’s rapid promotion behind the scenes. 

The interest of Dominus Association which encompassed India to Southeast Asia was to evangelize, spreading it out to Ming Dynasty, the biggest empire in East Asia. 

However, with the oriental religions like Confucianism permeating into Ming Dynasty perfectly, it was impossible to spread Christian missionary works there. 

At one time, a Catholic sect called Nestorianism had been established in China to some degree. However, the influence of Catholicism began to diminish during the Ming dynasty. 

[Note: Chrisitanity ? Catholicism. Christianity is the religion that believed in Christ as the Son of God, which includes the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and other subdivisions. Furthermore, Ming Dynasty here refers to the biggest state in China, which was once divided to a lot of small and big countries. Hence, Ming Dynasty = country/state. Ming dynasty = the dynasty, or house, of rulers who controlled Ming Dynasty.] 

As for Xavier who was one of the founders of Dominus Association, the missionary works hadn’t fared well as they wanted, and he died in India. 

After the death of Xavier, the Conquistador faction to which Gaspard belonged built a European military base in the golden country Zipangu. They schemed to use missionary works as a pretext to forcibly intervene in the military affairs inside the Spanish armada in the Philippines [Spanish navy garrisoned in the Philippine colony] and turn Zipangu’s army against Ming Dynasty. 

At any rate, when the unification of political power was established, Zipangu would be the world’s strongest military nation that would become an important key of missionary works in the Orient. 

However, as a matter of fact, Gaspard himself had made a simple, fine line to make a clear distinction between himself and the Conquistador faction.  

There was a more magnificent plan, and he took it as his sense of mission.  

That was why. 

The young Namban missionary Gaspard from Europe, whom Tachibana Dosetsu and his vassal corps feared so much, was seen as a clear sage in Kanbei’s eyes. 

He didn’t have eyes filled with burning ambition, only having a calm expression as quiet as the surface of water. A smile which did not contain any little hostility nor fighting spirit against the opposing party; a shabby and plain look. A long silky hair that made one think of him as a herbivore. 

It was a man who somehow was reminiscent of the Son of God, who was crucified on a cross. However, Frois was different; when she entered the room, “Gaspard-sama… Just like what the rumor said, you are a heretic. You aren’t a legitimate Catholic clergyman. You are a man who indulges himself in alchemy, Kabbalah, and astrology,” Frois let out a shaken voice. 

“Frois. I’m not a magician. I merely collect the fragments of wisdom from the fallen Roman Empire, which was lost for eternity. To revive the golden epoch of mankind, it is my job as a scholar.” [Perhaps referring to the Golden Age when Cronus reigned?] 

A glass flask and retort. 

The innumerable ancient books that were piled up on the wall. 

Many polished and processed varieties of stones. 

A celestial globe. 

A pentagram painted on the floor. 

For Kanbei and Sen no Rikyuu who had learnt Namban alchemy, they wouldn’t see it as a strange room so much. They would think that it was the room of a real Namban scholar. 

“As what I have expected, the afterglow of ancient great wisdom existed at the eastern end of the golden country of Zipangu. The three sacred treasures that were handed down to the Yamato Imperial Palace. Or the summoning of the man from the future Sagara Yoshiharu which was a miracle that Zipangu made itself. The hole that opened up in the sky which was connected to the space-time of the future, have you seen the miracle of the opening of Amano-Iwato? There would never be such a miracle to happen in Europe.” 

“Why did Gaspard-sama do such a terrible thing like that. Excavating the treasures that were laid dormant in the sea, persuading Lion-san with your skillful words, and lastly, cornering Nobuna-sama on the battlefield to use it.” 

“I wanted Sagara Yoshiharu to quietly return to the future. Above all, he is inconvenient to me. Because Sagara Yoshiharu’s importance in Zipangu has increased, as a consequence, it ends in my complete defeat.” 

Frois was convinced; Gaspard wasn’t just about using his intellectual curiosity to gather numerous tricks, but also having a firm will to dig out the forbidden knowledge that the churches had sealed away. 

Furthermore, it was obvious that Gaspard was a heretic and an alien [someone who’s completely different from others]  The evidence could be shown on his own face. 

“What is it? What’s wrong with this missionary’s face, Frois?” 

“That’s right. Because Simon-san has never seen your face, she hasn’t noticed it. Gaspard-sama’s ‘face…’ It’s the face of a man who shouldn’t live in this world. What kind of method did you use to obtain that ‘face?’ It couldn’t be said as the miracle of faith, Gaspard-sama. You must have used demonic means; if you didn’t, then you wouldn’t have obtained that ‘face.’” 

“This is exactly the miracle of faith.” 

“No, it’s different. Gaspard Cabral-sama. No, Gaspard Coelho-sama. It is expected that Francisco Cabral-sama, a former military personnel, to become the new head of Dominus Association of Zipangu. But Cabral-sama suddenly lost contact during his journey to Zipangu, and instead, you became the chief of the Kyushu branch. You claimed to be the soul of “Cabral” and inherited the name Cabral on the ship. But… I absolutely sensed a scheme of the Conquistador faction. Cabral was once a barbarian adventurer who was not different from a buccaneer. After meeting Xavier-sama, he was admitted as a member of Dominus Association; he began to repent and joined the missionary work.” 

“Frois. The rumor that I have assassinated Cabral-dono is totally groundless. I am just a scholar. Furthermore, poison is out of my specialty. I, at that time, couldn’t kill him who was a robust military officer in a narrow cabin.” 

“But anybody will doubt it if they see your face!” 

“Cabral is a typical racist. Since the beginning when he saw the excellent and rational people of Zipangu, he looked down on them like they were the monkeys of the Orient. With such an attitude, he won’t be able to move the heart of this proud-hearted country. If a person like him came over to Zipangu as the chief executive as scheduled, then the activity of Dominus Association and the Christians would be delayed for ten years. Thus, time would be wasted. By the will of God, he disappeared, and I was promoted to the seat of the Kyushu branch’s chief thanks to this ‘face.’” 

“No. It was evidently the result of your secret maneuvers and the Conquistador faction, Gaspard-sama. The proof is your appointment as the military adviser of the Otomo Clan! This is beyond the work of a missionary!” 

“It’s a misunderstanding, Frois. I don’t lead the soldiers of Zipangu to invade the Ming China. Even if I do, the destiny of the world will not change for a better path. I entered Dominus Association and also approached the Conquistador faction in order to cross over the seas to Zipangu at any cost. In India, I was told by Xavier that, in Zipangu, there was a young, atypical princess called Oda Nobuna. For that princess, there is no distinction between the Orient and Europe in this world and there are no differences between Europeans and her own countrymen; furthermore, there is not even a difference between a god and a human. Someday, she will grow to be a hero like Alexander the Great. I want to be employed by Oda Nobuna; in order to raise her as the queen of the Oriental Christian nation of Zipangu. Indeed, I have an even grander and nobler purpose, rather than a lofty ambition of the missionary works in Ming China or the colonial management of East Asia.” 

“… Did you also obtain that ‘face’ for your “great purpose?” Literally an expedient measure.” 

“It may be so. It wasn’t only you who was scared upon seeing this face. There are people who appreciate it as the miracle of God and shed tears for it. It’s convenient to have this special ‘face.’” 

“You also used this face to enter the hole of Otomo’s heart!” 

Frois glared at Gaspard with ghastly eyes. 

However, Kuroda Kanbei did not have any faith. 

The reason why she daringly became a Christian was to proactively learn the unknown Namban culture such as alchemy and electromagnetism. 

Therefore, she had no fear in confronting such a heretic missionary. 

“What’s with the face that isn’t supposed to exist on this earth? Isn’t this just an ordinary Namban face? Rather, doesn’t he look like a saint who emancipated himself from self-interest?” 

Kanbei sat down and began to negotiate with Gaspard, feeling doubt. 

“So, Gaspard. Because the matter with Fancisco is unrelated to us, I shall put it down for now. You seem to have inspired Sorin with some strange things. Was it the establishment of a country of God? That will be a trouble! Oda Nobuna is currently surrounded by the eastern and western warlords. I have to persuade Otomo Sorin to attack Mori from behind in order to impede their advancement.” 

“Simon-kun. I hope that you could urge Oda Nobuna to become the queen of Zipangu. Originally, I was going to give Yasakani Magatama to Oda Nobuna myself and become a military advisor of the Oda Clan. She had a personality to disregard Christianity and Namban culture as “foreign” things, along with her capacity that is not inferior to Queen Elizabeth of England; there is no other person who is qualified to be the ruler of Zipangu.” 

“Unfortunately, Otomo Sorin-sama is a person who is equal to Oda Nobuna, but her threshold is weaker due to poor upbringing; that person has always suffered from the betrayal of her vassals and clan. She doesn’t have the mindset to reign over Zipangu. Though it’s possible for that person to fully utilize her ability for the first time by fighting jointly with Oda Nobuna,” Gaspard still smiled serenely. 

“After Xavier passed away, Dominus Association can’t understand it anymore. The notion that this Far Eastern island Zipangu holds the fate of the world. Mankind’s history will change completely once Zipangu is united where its power as the world’s strongest military nation is kept as a Christian nation. The mixture of eastern and western cultures that happened in the past will happen again. Because Alexander the Great had gone to an adventure for conquest, he united the western Greek and eastern Persian civilizations. Only by uniting the eastern and western civilizations that the Golden Age of mankind will be achieved. There is no way we could let this country isolate itself from the outside.” 

“What’s with this national seclusion? This man sometimes uses strange words,” Kanbei suspected that his way of talking was as if he knew about the future. 

“So, Why, after giving Yasakani Magatama to Lion, did you return to Kyushu?” 

“An unexpected situation occurred to me. The daughters of the previous ruler Takahisa, the Shimazu Four Sisters, had been solidified by a new order and suddenly grew in power. Those four sisters will banish the Namban and Christians who will try to involve Zipangu during the Age of Discovery from Kyushu [Originally, it is written as “great navigation era.” It sounds like the Age of Discovery when European ships sailed around the world for new lands, hence the revision of the term.].  Otomo Sorin-sama will fall now if I don’t prevent the Shimazu Clan’s northern advancement. All of the footholds of the European power in Kyushu will be burned down by Shimazu. By the time Oda Nobuna reaches Kyushu eventually, it will be too late. Frois. There is no room left for argument whether I am a heretic or do belong to the Conquistador faction anymore.” 

“Whether you are a heretic who will support or become an enemy of Oda Nobuna, this Simon will judge you not by your words. I shall pull a tarot card,” Kanbei put the card deck on a desk and approached Gaspard 

. 

“This one card, it will indicate your future! Cheating will prove nothing!” 

“I should pull it? Then I will pick this card on the top.” 

“I’ll say this. It’s useless to make a fake replacement of the cards. I have properly taken measures.” 

“I understand, small strategist of Zipangu” 

Gaspard picked the card placed on top of the deck simply with one finger, turned it over, and replaced it on the deck. 

Kanbei could hardly believe what she had seen through her own eyes. 

“…. It’s blank. There is no picture. How stupid. How could I mix the forgotten ‘omitted’ card inside?” 

“It’s regrettable, but there is no one who can read my future, Simon-kun. To use tarots or astrology is impossible. It’s even impossible for Nostradamus,” Gaspard answered. 

“Why, why? Why is there no future about you? Even the “Death” card didn’t come out. It’s impossible for such a person to exist!” 

“It’s because I don’t live in the future that I always lived in the past. I believe that the Golden Age of humanity existed in the past and that there is no paradise in the future. In the past during antiquity, society harmonized with human spirits beautifully, and they were unified as they maintained reasonable moderation and freedom. However, a great accident befell upon them as the mythical Tower of Babel collapsed, and flood destroyed their utopia. As a result, the human race divided into innumerable races, nations, and civilizations.” 

“That is a story from the Old Testament, right?” 

“No. From Babylonia; Akkadian Empire [Originally written as Akkadian (not to be confused with the French Acadian), which was actually the language of Babylonia and named after the Akkadian Empire, hence the revision. Since their lands overlapped, this sentence is semantically questionable; the first two should be incorporated as Mesopotamia (EN: You may revise this, as I don’t much believe in my stock knowledge).]; Greece; Aztec, Mayan, and Incan civilizations; and Formosa. I have collected about the myth of the Great Flood from various races across all parts of the world. Many myths including the Holy Bible tell historical facts in travesty as a mythology. The order of the world is thrown into haphazard by time. I can’t overturn this law with any study or knowledge. There is paradise in the past, while only apocalypse prophesized in the Revelation awaits in the future.” 

“Has Sagara Yoshiharu forgotten that the world he lived in is on the verge of collapse? Or doesn’t he know it since he was born in a peaceful country by chance?” Gaspard muttered with a sorrowful look. 

“How did you know the future? Have you passed through Amano-Iwato just like Sagara Yoshiharu? Or are you a person from the future who traveled to the past?” 

“You can see the past and future without causing a big miracle like Amano-Iwato, at least. Such a thing can be done inside this small room covered with dust.” 

“How? Show it to me!” 

“Simon-san, it’s dangerous!” Frois shook Kanbei’s shoulders, but Kanbei’s endless curiosity had already erupted. 

“By using this Platonic solid [A Platonic solid is a polyhedron with each of the vertices formed by the same number of congruent sides. One simple example of it is the cube,  whose each vertex is formed by three sides.]. It is also called the “stone molded without using hands.” It’s a natural, white stone shaped like an icosahedron [Please use Google from now on since I find explaining tiresome] which is made up of a perfect equilateral triangle on every face.” 

“Natural white stone? This is? It doesn’t seem like it’s processed by people.” 

“Moreover, it’s a valuable thing since there is only one of its kind in the world. Therefore, I can use it for my observational art. Little strategist of Zipangu. Take a look. The picture of the future is reflected from the depths of this stone.” 

Kanbei held her breath. 

The image projected from the inside the stone after had Gaspard taken it out. It was the scene of Azuchi Castle which had been completed by Oda Nobuna wrapped and burning within crimson flames. 

“What is this, Gaspard?” 

“What we can see is only a fragment, Simon-kun. The scene reflected from this Platonic solid comes abruptly like a flash. I have no choice but to complement the interval between the images with knowledge and reasoning. But you probably must have already known it from Sagara Yoshiharu. The future of Azuchi Castle which is the symbol of Oda Nobuna’s ambition, the Tenka Fubu, is painted in an inferno.” 

Simon knew about the future, the Fire of Honno-ji. However, if Nobuna was slain when Honno-ji was burning, then the Oda administration would disappear from this earth, and naturally, Azuchi Castle, where Oda Nobuna resided at, would be burnt during the war afterward as well.  

“It’s the same… With the future that Sagara Yoshiharu told. Gaspard seems to be able to foresee everything from the past to the future with the same conclusion that has been prophesied before. There is no doubt,” Kanbei’s shoulders shook from learning that Oda Nobuna’s destiny is difficult to prevent. 

“If there is no one interfering in this history, Oda Nobuna will be slain soon. The Oda administration will fall, and Zipangu will not enter the Age of Discovery. There would be no one else that has physical prowess and willpower if Zipangu loses Oda Nobuna who is akin to a hero with a talent that only comes out once in a millennium. However, even being the world’s largest military power with excessive gold and silvers, once the samurais of this nation brandish their power to all directions, it will have been exhausted eventually and will enter into a saikoku. Thus it will cut off its relationship with the Namban and Ming China except for some free regions. And thus, a long-lasting peace will be kept in this country with that. It isn’t the best method, but this is the best one they could have. Such is their fate.” 

“Nobuna-sama will be defeated? Is that true, Simon-san?” Frois asked. 

“Disclosing it is useless, but the future that Gaspard has talked about is almost true,” Kanbei nodded. 

“Such a thing is. Does Yoshiharu-san know about it?” 

“Indeed. He knows about it from the beginning. Because he knows about it that Sagara Yoshiharu continues to fight to change Oda Nobuna’s fate.” 

I am finally aware of the deep sorrow that Sagara Yoshiharu secretly holds. 

However, that was impossible for Frois; she could only pray Sagara Yoshiharu makes a different future for Oda Nobuna. She grieved over her powerlessness. There was nothing she could do except to pray. 

“This power would be useless if this thing is damaged. It is valuable,” Gaspard covered the stone with a woolen cloth. 

“It was the reason of the people of this country that Zipangu chose isolationism. But I know of the future of Zipangu and the world. As the result of Oda Nobuna’s death, the separation of the eastern and western civilizations won’t be resolved. After several hundreds of years passes, the eastern and western civilizations will clash. The Europeans will come again to Zipangu. Moreover, at that time, there is a decisive military difference. The Namban will lead an invincible ironclad fleet, not wooden ships. It is impossible to retain country isolation. Zipangu is merely stopped in its own time. But the world itself does not stop.” 

“Foolish! Oda Nobuna is the inventor of tekkosen [ironclad ship]! But right now, it’s too heavy and can’t sail in the open seas. However, at any rate, there will be a technological innovation.” 

“Many genius insights that Oda Nobuna sees will be buried under the darkness. The tekkosen will be forgotten several years after her death. During the European Middle Ages, when the Roman Empire collapsed, many of its ancient wisdom are sealed by the Church, thus civilization has declined. Do you know that the Dark Ages has come? Because Zipangu is not as stupid as they are, they won’t decline. But it will stagnate gradually. Relatively speaking, it’s the same as decaying.” 

“If Oda Nobuna doesn’t die according to her destiny, then Japan will enter the Age of Discovery and become the catalyst that’ll cause the fusion of the eastern and western civilizations. Only at that time that the history of humanity will be tampered according to your decision. The world before the Great Flood. In other words, it’s only one step closer to the utopia of the past where all of mankind lived together. Is this why you want to tamper the future that you saw, letting Oda Nobuna live?” 

“Gracias. It is the biggest reason why I’ve come to Zipangu. Simon-kun, you are very quick to turn your mind around. Your understanding is outstanding among the intellectual people of Zipangu that I’ve come across.” 

“I’m not as good as Takenaka Hanbei,” Kanbei curtly answered. 

“But then, you should cooperate with Sagara Yoshiharu. Doesn’t your purpose of changing Oda Nobuna’s fate match perfectly? Why are you trying to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future?” 

“It probably is a story which is hard to understand by the people of Zipangu where the king has many concubines, but in Europe, purity is respected. Therefore, for Oda Nobuna who is the queen of a foreign people to be acknowledged by the world, she must officially receive a Catholic baptism and become the queen of a Christian nation, becoming a virgin queen. Like the way of Elizabeth of England. She is praised by the people as a great queen of a Christian nation and accepted. Love is taboo – before this, the people of Zipangu will not acknowledge their love due to the social status difference between her and Sagara Yoshiharu. With the way things are, she will perish because of Sagara Yoshiharu who should’ve come to save her.” 

“Are you forcing purity to Otomo Sorin for that reason? That fellow is a person who gets lonely easily. It’s impossible to live in loneliness. It’s awful,” Kanbei hit the desk in indignation. 

“The situation is a little different with Sorin-sama. That person has a weak heart. Once she is blinded by a man, she will be corrupted immediately. Thus, she can’t be a deputy military commander nor a close friend to Oda Nobuna. If Sagara Yoshiharu comes out and meets with her, there is a possibility that her heart will be taken by him. Therefore, I want to avoid that by all means necessary.” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu is truly a troublesome existence,” Gaspard laughed.  

“He is a special human being who originally shouldn’t exist in this world. As long as the person from the future who is an uncertain factor exists in this world, my observational art and intervention are impeded. A future person like him should not have existed here; my art can’t be performed accurately. In other words, I can’t predict how history is being tampered by his actions. Furthermore, the worst thing is that Sagara Yoshiharu has fallen in love with Oda Nobuna. This love will eventually ruin Oda Nobuna. The fate, even if the route has been changed, it will be carried by the people to its destination.” 

“No. It’s only your own opinion, Gaspard. Sagara Yoshiharu doesn’t think like that. Sagara Yoshiharu believes that fate can be changed.” 

“That is simply his own desire. To change fate, to overturn numerical inferiority from a cornered state of checkmate like in chess and shogi, a theoretical decision is necessary. 

Only I who know of the future can accomplish that with calm actions. That boy prioritizes lives and emotions. That action has neither interest nor reason. It’s the most difficult uncertain element for me. Before Oda Nobuna was ruined, I had tried to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to future.” 

“I don’t understand it. Why not just send an assassin to kill Sagara Yoshiharu directly? Why are you carefully keeping him alive?” 

“He is a very troublesome existence. That is because there is a flaw in my observational skills. To a person from the future who originally shouldn’t exist in this world, if I were to interfere with it myself through means with maximum intensity like murder, then both his and this world’s fate would overlap completely and the precision of my observational art would deviate eternally. It would be impossible to predict the future. So, I tried to return him to the future. I was going to return it to the original world which is ‘the world where there is no Sagara Yoshiharu.’ When he lost his memories about the Oda Clan, the person that blocked my observational skill disappeared. I was relieved… But his vitality and willpower, they seem to take pride in their obstinacy, which is hard to believe.” 

Kanbei laughed through her small nose, “Mufuu,” and stuck out her chest. 

“I am relieved to hear that, Gaspard. You can only use the power of the three regalia once. There isn’t any power left in the sacred treasures. Amano-Iwato can’t be opened twice.” 

“Ah. That kind of surprising magic can only be used once. Therefore, I am using these ten sacred treasures this time.” 

“The spear that Chosokabe used. As expected, it was all because of you.” 

“Kobayawaka is a careful and wise person. I took the effort so that I won’t be suspected as the culprit, letting KobayawakaTakakage obtain it through the Murakami Navy. In her heart, she doesn’t want to kill Sagara Yoshiharu, but it has become a dilemma in her heart; she was worried about preventing the alliance of the Oda and Otomo Clans. There were very few options. I took over that advantage. Perhaps she wouldn’t notice that I am operating in the back yet.” 

“It’s all according to your calculation.” 

“If Sagara Yoshiharu meets Sorin-sama, then Sorin-sama’s fate will also be twisted by him. I might lose to Sagara Yoshiharu. I thoroughly believe with my knowledge and faith that the queen of Zipangu must be a virgin queen. But Sagara Yoshiharu gives love to the princess generals as a man, all without thinking about the consequences. That is a strong weapon for young girls. Therefore, I put him in an ‘accident.’ But I did not let Sagara Yoshiharu have an ‘accidental death’ because it ipso facto has the same effect as killing him. Therefore…” 

“His accident isn’t simply to prevent him to enter and disturb Bungo.” 

“… That’s correct, Simon-kun. My intention of exploiting that accident is to lead him to a point where I will make ‘Sagara Yoshiharu isn’t born from the beginning.’ Eventually, he will disappear from the earth. Both the present and the future. Because, in the first place, he isn’t born. If I use this method, then Sagara Yoshiharu would no longer have any influence to this world, and my observational art wouldn’t deviate.” 

“From the start? To have never been born? What on earth is that kind of reasoning? Surely… By eliminating Sagara Yoshiharu’s ancestor and exterminating his blood lineage?” 

“The fate that ‘Sagara Yoshiharu will be born’ can’t be undone. Fate is something like a probability: even if I change the course of fate that has advanced greatly and alter it temporarily, it would arrive to the original end of its destiny. Even if I significantly tamper it so many times, after hundreds of year, it would yield the same result. For example, by letting Imagawa Yoshimoto live, it doesn’t mean that the descendants of Imagawa’s family tree will deviate from its order. On the contrary, I can’t kill Sagara Yoshiharu even if I killed the people who would be Sagara Yoshiharu’s ancestors one after another. The people are born with strong fate. Even if it’s interfered at some point, the world will take a long time to finally balance it.” [Mushoku Tensei content – 98%] 

“So, how exactly are you going to erase him?” 

“That is, to ‘erase’ the ‘fate that Sagara Yoshiharu will be born.’ You should let another fate that shouldn’t have crossed in theory collide with this fate. By the fact that a contradiction that shouldn’t have happened is caused, then Sagara Yoshiharu’s existence would disappear. The memories about Sagara Yoshiharu will disappear from your and Oda Nobuna’s minds. The world that has been tampered by him will change to ‘a world where there is no Sagara Yoshiharu.’ In the place where Sagara Yoshiharu does not exist, I shall become the strategist of Oda Nobuna in this world.” 

“Gaspard, who on earth exactly are you?” Kanbei dropped the tarot cards she held in her hands to the floor. 

“Simon-san! You two have talked too much! Your heart is already being robbed by his words too. He trickes you with curiosity and gradually draws it deeper into the depths.” 

“That said, Frois. I just can’t ignore it and let Sagara Yoshiharu disappear.” 

“Simon-san. Perhaps Gaspard-sama wants to lead Nobuna-sama’s armies in Zipangu and intends to cause a great war with the paganistic country Ottoman Empire in the name of God! A literal Crusade war! In the European chronicles, there is a true king named Prester John who leads a powerful Christian country in the Orient; there will be a legendary savior in the east to fight the pagans with the European lords soon. One of the reasons the Age of Discovery arrived in Europe was to sail the oceans and search for this Prester John. Although it has been acknowledged that such a king does not exist, Gaspard-sama wants to train Nobuna-sama to become Prester John and make the legend real.” 

“Prester John? Oda Nobuna will become a Christian and convert Japan into a Christian country to make the legend come true?” 

“If it comes true, Zipangu will cooperate with the European lords and make an unprecedented world war against the Ottoman Empire in a pincer attack from the east and west. By causing a great war, the east-west merging scheme will be fulfilled by forcibly making the European and Ottoman cultures conflate; that is, to incorporating both Islamic and Christian countries together.” 

“It doesn’t say that much there. Frois is too afraid of me. Perhaps you might see me as a demon. But when I have learnt of the future, I know that my actions are right. Humans’ war weapons evolve remarkably, but religious wars will not end in the future four hundred years later. Rather, religion rivalries will intensify further. The chance is only now when Oda Nobuna has appeared in Zipangu, through which human errors can be corrected.” 

“I continue praying that Yoshiharu-san will take out Nobuna-sama to the oceans, but I should never think of dragging Nobuna-sama into a bottomless religious war,” Frois desperately preached hard. 

“The reason why Nobuna-sama wants to go out to the oceans is to sail for adventures around the world that have not been seen yet and to establish oceanic trade! It is not about becoming a colony to join the Spanish, Portuguese, and Crusade expeditions to attack the pagans with military power! In the first place, Nobuna-sama is a person who has divided both religion and military power way ahead than the Europeans. You must not drag her to join the Crusade of the past.” 

Kanbei began to think that Gaspard wasn’t just some simple prophet; he behaved as if he had foreseen the future that the Platonic solid showed… 

“Frois, right now, Sagara Yoshiharu’s safety is more important. Since Simon still remembers his name, it means that he still hasn’t gone extinct yet.” 

“It would be an extraordinary story to make Oda Nobuna and Ottoman Empire fight each other. Zipangu still doesn’t have a powerful naval force,” Gaspard calmly giggled. 

“If a Christian country suddenly appears in the Far East with a powerful armament, then it would be inevitable for Nobuna-sama to lead a powerful fleet to cross the sea! The samurais of Japan put serious traditional emphasis for supreme armies while neglecting naval power, Nobuna-sama is an exception. There are merchants and pirates who descended from the lineage of the Wako pirates of Zipangu that started a southern sea trade. If she organizes it, it wouldn’t be impossible to form a powerful navy.” 

“Let’s make a bet, Frois and Simon-kun. My 2nd challenge to remove Sagara Yoshiharu’s interference, leaving only one result. If Sagara Yoshiharu disappears, would you join me in the struggle to prevent Oda Nobuna’s death? But if Sagara Yoshiharu survives again and arrives in front of me and Otomo Sorin-sama, then I will admit complete defeat and vow to join Sagara Yoshiharu’s will. But that would be an impossible thing.”